I’ll admit I’ve never been a big fan of Godzilla. I have a tendency to organize kaiju videos along with “Transformers” and “Fast. “
This long-standing vision was temporarily crushed with the full force of a skyscraper-sized lizard crushing a metropolitan city when I saw Toho’s new film, “Godzilla,” in theaters last year. To say that this epic monster movie blew me away would be an understatement. This blockbuster opened my eyes to the strengths of the genre and made me feel silly for being dismissive in the first place.
I’ve been desperately looking to revisit this fashion masterpiece for months, and I almost screamed with joy when Netflix showed that “Godzilla: Minus One” would be added to its streaming catalog this month. And the streamer doesn’t make subscribers wait to get started watching either, it’s now available in the US. The U. S. and the U. K.
After its spectacular fall over the weekend (Saturday, June 1), “Godzilla: Minus One” already sits at No. 4 on the platform’s most-watched list, and its rise to No. 1 is all but guaranteed at this point. I understand why this is the only Netflix movie you want to watch right now, and certainly the most productive Godzilla movie ever made. Point.
Opened in 1945, “Godzilla: Minus One” sees a kamikaze pilot named Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) first encounter the colossal laser-spitting lizard as he attempts to abandon his duty as a soldier. The experience left him traumatized and he returned home to locate his country in ruins after the bombing of Tokyo in World War II.
Plagued by intense guilt over his military abandonment and inability to act against Godzilla, he takes in a homeless woman named Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe) and an orphaned bathrough. The three begin a family unit as Japan rebuilds, but the shadow of the kaiju looms in the background, as it slowly makes its way across the ocean.
When the gigantic creature emerges off the coast of Tokyo, Kōichi is forced to sign up with an organization of army veterans who plan to take down the beast and, in doing so, gain redemption. Combining dramatic characters with successful thrills, “Godzilla: Minus One” is a difficult combination that’s much more than a movie about a massive warehouse of dinosaur destruction.
In the past, I’ve found “Godzilla” videos to be little more than the cinematic equivalent of a kid punching action figures. Notably, 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” is a mess of CGI monstrosities fighting without stakes. that I ranked it as one of my least favorite videos of the year. But “Godzilla: Minus One” is a very different kind of beast.
What I love most about “Godzilla: Minus One” is that the monster of the same name is the real star. In fact, in the 125-minute film, Godzilla stays on screen for less than half an hour.
What I love most about “Godzilla: Minus One” is that the monster of the same name isn’t the real star. In fact, in the 125-minute film, Godzilla stays on screen for less than a portion of an hour. And there’s an era in the first Act where he’s not a factor, as we focus on Japan’s attempts to rebuild itself after the devastating bombings of World War II. This component of the film is perhaps my favorite because I enjoyed the dating dynamic between Kōichi and Noriko.
Drawing compelling characters first only makes the action sequences when Godzilla seem even more powerful. Unlike previous “Godzilla” videos in which the titan destroys cities with reckless abandon and the stakes seem minimal, in “Minus One” they feel deeply private. Because you care so much about the cast that you need to see them survive.
It also helps that “Godzilla: Minus One” has some of the most productive special effects I’ve ever seen. Its Oscar for Best Visual Effects was well-deserved and I remain in awe that this film was made on a budget of around $15 million and yet is noticeably larger than that of many films that charge over $200 million (yes, here I call the rubber CGI effects of “Ant-Man and the Wasp”: Quantumania)
“Godzilla: Minus One” has it all. Not only is it an incredibly well-crafted action movie, but its characters are compelling and well-developed. Hell, I probably would have enjoyed this movie even if the huge monster had never given that impression. This is a testament to the strength of the film’s writing and its alluring post-war setting. The fact that the film offers a gripping story and desirable characters, as well as epic action, is a natural wonder.
I’m not the only fan of “Godzilla: Minus One,” it has temporarily become a favorite in Tom’s Guide’s office and critics also praised the film.
The 2023 film lately has a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. And audiences agree, and it also gives the film the same near-perfect score of 98%, making it the highest-rated “Godzilla” movie.
The site’s critical consensus reads: “With gripping human stories anchoring the action, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ is a kaiju film that indeed remains compelling between scenes of mass destruction. Which echoes in my mind about this must-see movie.
Kevin Maher of the Times of London called the film “outrageously spectacular,” while Lucas Trevor of the Washington Post impressed even more, saying, “The result is nothing short of magical: a dinner for the eyes, an entertaining epic in any and all cases. “every sense of the word. ‘”
Bob Strauss of the San Francisco Chronicle noted that although it took several decades, “here is, regardless, a Godzilla movie with compelling human interest” in some other overwhelmingly positive article.
I think the answer to the above question is pretty obvious right now, but in case you’re not sure, yes, you deserve to stream “Godzilla: Minus One” on Netflix. And you deserve to stream this epic as soon as possible. Cancel your weekend plans, put the kids to bed early, or call a user with health issues from the paintings if you have to (well, maybe you won’t do the latter).
“Godzilla: Minus One” is a monster movie of rare quality. Its mix of emotionally devastating human drama and a huge, scaly lizard that leaves a trail of destruction in its wake is tough and combines superbly to deliver a blockbuster with brains (and hearts). to fit your muscles.
If you want to get more recommendations from Netflix, check out our list of all the new videos and views on the popular streaming service this week, adding “Hit Man. ”
Watch “Godzilla: Minus One” on Netflix Now
Rory is the entertainment editor of Tom’s Guide, founded in the UK. It covers a wide diversity of topics but has a special focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not checking out the newest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing engaging versions. From new material from games, TV shows, and movies, you can be discovered attending music festivals and getting too emotionally involved in your favorite football team.
5 New Netflix Movies with 90% or More on Rotten Tomatoes
The new “Wallace
Australia vs England Streaming: How to Watch T20 World Cup 2024 Online
Tom’s Guide is from Future US Inc. , a leading foreign media organization and online publisher. Visit our corporate website.